Bittersweet movies November 25, 2007

Of all the movies I saw at last week’s film festival, I’ve now identified my clear favorite. But first I have to say I didn’t hate any of the movies I saw, although there was one that wasn’t completely my thing (it’s not a movie any of you recommended, so no fears there). I was delighted that I finally got to see My Wife Is a Gangster, and I can’t figure out why MWIG 2 is so readily available while MWIG 1 doesn’t seem to be available anywhere, even on Tiger Cinema the last I checked (shame on you, TC). MWIG 1 didn’t disappoint, although I was prepared to be disappointed since I’d been dying to see it for so long. High expectations, you know. But no. Hilarious movie.

But not my fave.

Trust me to go dark and pick a totally non-comedy gangster semi-redemption pic for my favorite film. The Raven Favorite Award for KOFFLA 2007 (that’s the festival’s abbreviation) goes to A Bittersweet Life.

If you haven’t seen this movie, SEE IT. But if you hate antiheroes, don’t see it, because Lee Byung Hun’s character is an antihero extraordinaire. But after years of being a ruthless, conscience-free mob enforcer, he suddenly encounters a situation where his conscience won’t let him follow orders, and the movie follows his journey from there. Dark, bloody, tense, and awesome. It can be hard to portray an antihero sympathetically and get into his mind so we can understand him (witness Michael Clayton, which I just saw… oops, I can’t talk about that here, it’s not Korean), but A Bittersweet Life manages it.

Not to sound shallow, but Lee Byung Hun is also total eye candy. But he could have been hot as all get out and I still wouldn’t have liked the movie if it had worked less well.

Also in the movie were Shin Min Ah and Lee Ki Young, both of whom have been mentioned here before. Lee Ki Young even got a whole post dedicated to him here. Despite what I said about him then, he clearly does get shoved into gangster roles a lot. And as for her, well, all I can say is she pulls off the sweet and innocent act with grace, but c’mon, how often do real gangsters end up with sweet, innocent mistresses? Of course, real gangsters probably don’t look like Lee Byung Hun either. Her character was necessary for the story. It worked well enough. I let it slide.

P.S. The photo is from english.chosun.com.

Korean Film Festival ends tomorrow November 17, 2007

If you haven’t caught any of the films yet, tomorrow is your last chance! Four films will be showing. I’ll be at the second two: My Wife Is a Gangster and the closing film, The Show Must Go On. I believe the director will be there for that one.

Korean Film Festival reminder November 14, 2007

The 2007 Korean Film Festival is almost here! It starts tomorrow. Click for the schedule. And for synopses of the various films, go here and click on the film posters.

I’ll be at the panel discussion, and I’m currently planning on seeing the opening and closing films plus My Wife Is a Gangster (I’ve been dying to see that one forever, so there’s no way I’m missing it), Save the Green Planet (sounds funny), and A Bittersweet Life. I need to catch one or two more on Friday and Saturday, but I haven’t decided which yet. If anybody who doesn’t know me wants to say hi, look for the tallish white girl with dark hair and glasses and a press pass.

The festival is at the Fairfax 3, conveniently located on Beverly. Gotta love a theater named after a street it’s not on.

If any of you are going and want to do a guest review of any of the films, let me know.